On Stage (EP) explained

On Stage
Type:ep
Artist:Kate Bush
Cover:On Stage Cover.jpg
Released:31 August 1979
Recorded:13 May 1979
Venue:Hammersmith Odeon (London)
Genre:Art rock
Length:16:51
Label:EMI, Harvest (Canada)
Producer:Kate Bush, Jon Kelly
Prev Title:Lionheart
Prev Year:1978
Next Title:Never for Ever
Next Year:1980

On Stage is a live recording of four songs performed on Kate Bush's Tour of Life in 1979. It was released on 31 August 1979 and peaked at number 10 on the UK chart.[1]

Background

On Stage contains recordings ostensibly from Bush's concert recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon on 13 May 1979. However, the four tracks on this EP are noticeably different from those released in 1994, when 60 minutes of the 13 May 1979 concert was issued on audio CD. On Stage became Bush's first official (non-bootlegged) live performance on vinyl.

The record was usually issued in various global markets as a four-track 7" disc running at 33RPM. However, it was also released on 12" vinyl in some countries (Japan, Netherlands, Canada, France and Australia - with 45RPM and 33RPM speeds). Uniquely, Canada also issued the EP as a cassette. In the UK EMI issued the EP (as a promotional item) over four sides of two 7" discs packaged in a gatefold sleeve. A 2 disc version was also chosen as the commercial Portuguese issue. The commercially available UK 7" version (a single disc featuring all four tracks on one record) was initially packaged in a gatefold sleeve (similar to the promotional edition) which was quickly replaced by a single pocket version. Canada also issued a variant of the 7" single in a gatefold sleeve packaged inside a limited edition 12" outer cover.

The EP's peak at No 10 gave Bush her third UK top 10 hit. Studio versions of all four songs were originally released on her first two albums; "Them Heavy People", "James and the Cold Gun" and "L'Amour Looks Something Like You" from The Kick Inside (1978) and "Don't Push Your Foot on the Heartbrake" from Lionheart (1978).

Charts

Chart (1979–1983)Peak
position
Canadian RPM Albums Chart[2] 57
Dutch Single Top 10017
Irish Singles Chart[3] 15
UK Singles Chart10

Sales

The EP sold 5,980 units in Japan.[4]

Track listing

Notes and References

  1. https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Coward%20Of%20The%20County Official Charts Company – On Stage UK Chart details
  2. Top Albums/CDs – Volume 38, No. 9. RPM. PHP. 30 April 1983. 26 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20221126150003/https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=4269&. 26 November 2022. dead.
  3. http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement Irish charts – Kate Bush
  4. Book: Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Oricon Entertainment. Roppongi, Tokyo. 2006. 4-87131-077-9.